Associate Judges Evaluated in State Bar Poll

SPRINGFIELD, IL – All associate circuit judges in Illinois outside Cook County have been evaluated in a poll of lawyers conducted by the Illinois State Bar Association(ISBA).

Associate judges are subject to reappointment every four years by vote of the full circuit judges in each circuit. An associate judge must receive the votes of 60 percent of the circuit judges in order to be reappointed. Voting will be concluded prior to the beginning of new associate judge terms on July 1.

Although the decision on associate judge reappointment is made by the circuit judges, the ISBA is releasing these poll results to the public because all judges are public officials, and the opinions of their professional colleagues about their performance is of public interest.

Ballots were mailed to all ISBA members who practice in the circuit in which the associate judges sit and to any other lawyers who requested a ballot.

The poll asks respondents to answer “yes” or “no” to seven questions that measure judicial qualifications, and an overall question of whether “this candidate meets acceptable requirements for the office.” Candidates receiving 65 percent or higher “yes” votes on this overall question were rated “recommended” in the poll. Those receiving less than 65 percent were rated “not recommended.”

The ISBA, with offices in Springfield and Chicago, provides education and services to its lawyer-members and information to the public. For further information, visit www.isba.org/judicialevaluations.